750 Miles On Tuesday
 

Just to top the other post I thought I'd let you all know about my mega - ride home on Tuesday.

I set off from Chambery intending to overnight in Arras before getting the ferry home yesterday. When I got to Arras the town was fully booked. I was fairly tired at this point but not too aching and I ended up in Calais before I found a decent hotel.

Being that close to England I thought I might as well just get a ferry. After sitting around for an hour and a half waiting and then on the ferry I felt fresh again and although it didn't dock until 10.00 p.m. I thought I'd press on home to Brum.

The bike ran smoothly throughout apart from trouble selecting neutral (could be the adjustable levers I've fitted). I was damn cold though and the reason I didn't post this yesterday was because I was asleep for most of it!

I found the standard seat on my 02 ST4s is getting better with age (although it could be that I'm just numb with age) and I can get 150 miles before the fuel light comes on at a steady 90. I have down geared the bike for better acceleration though.

Having said all that I don't think I'll try it again for at least another year. :burn:

Top man i take my hat off to you. I'll bet you felt tired but satisfied when you finally got home.

I mostly didn't feel anything by the time I got home! :lol:

Well done! You b@stard though for well beating my 500 miles! :P That is now quite a challenge to set someone...........!!

This is another good recommendation for the crusing ability of the ST. Talk about the cold.. I did an overnight run from Manchester a couple of months back and even with all the winter gear on I was frozen.. had to stop four times just to warm up a bit.. it was well below 0 and I don't think I have ever been so cold..

Well done!

Cheers Dunks. I thought you might have taken the huff when I posted :o so I was a bit worried.

I'm not sure we should start a mileage challenge though as I was pretty damn tired at the end. It was only because I had my 'get me home' head on that I went for it :saint:

You are right about the ST though. It was fantastic on the motorway but still great over the alps. It's a great bike and I've posted some thoughts elsewhere on why I won't be trading it for a multistrada just yet :biaggi:

Keep up the mileage - it shocks loads of people when you tell them you've just done it on a Duke :lol::lol:

Did a San Angelo Texas to Blythe (Arizona/California border) on a 350 A7 Kawasaki in much ess than 24 hours (over a 1000 miles) with a speeding ticket in New Mexico. Aching butt, perhaps carpal tunnel syndrome (lol...no one knew the term back then). COuld probably do the same thing again on my ST4S if it was in the US and the speed limits were what they used to be, but with a lot more comfort. WOuldn't have to carry my own supply of 2-stroke oil either!

Unfortunately the playground that was called France has imported the dreaded speed trap. :mad:

There was a time when the Gendarmes used to encourage flat out lunacy, :sing: or at least turn a blind eye provided it was done with panache and not endangering others :borg:.

Now they slap you with heavy on-the-spot fines and confiscate your bike if you don't pay in cash there and then :barfy:

As for the UK - :flame:

So the vast majority of the trip was completed in a state of paranoia :ninja:, at one point the speed limit was 20 mph on the M25 and I was surrounded with active gatsos :cool:. What a hero :lol::frog::lol::o

Whew, lucky there. The speed limit at the time I did my ironbutt was 120 mph for TRUCKS at night! (I-10 outside of Phoenix). Nothing like being passed by an 18 wheeler at 130 mph in the middle of the desert....I kind of understood what Jim Morrison was singing about at times.

Interesting post.........

I've been considering a long range raid into Eastern Europe later this summer. I was wondering if 1000 miles in a day was realisitic. I think such a ride would stretch my stamina and concentration to the absolute limits. I'll probably end up getting an evening ferry and trying to knock of 2 or 3 hundred miles that night, so I'm only left with 700 to cover the next day. Be doing it on my 900ss, so perhaps not quite as comfortable as an ST.

Any thoughts on cracking the 1000 mile mark? I reckon doing it in 24 hours is probably doable, with a 5 or 6 hour sleep in the middle. But doing it straight withouth breaks, I'm not sure.

Wow - 1k in a day is really BIG miles :o

IMHO it would only be possible if you stay on the peage / autostradas as you will need to maintain a fairly hefty speed. Even averaging 100 m.p.h you will need 10 straight hours so it will be a long day in the saddle.

I don't think the riding position on the SS is that much more radical than an ST. My partner in crime on my trips used to ride a 916 and now has an Aprilia RSV Mille R Haga Replica and he reckons they are fine!

In theory it's a goer as long as you stick to the plan: stop only when you need petrol, eat and drink a little every stop, don't get side tracked. I have to say I don't think I would try it without some build up practice. Half my annual mileage every year is done on one trip and I try to get a couple of 200 mile + runs in before it. Even so I'm always knackered after the first day on any trip. :(

Having said that I am a fat old git with diabetes and arthritis so maybe that is the deciding factor :lol::lol::lol:

If you do go for it let me know as I'm thinking of going to Brno next year :biaggi:

1000 miles in a day is do able, but you'll probably find the first 900 miles are the worst, after that its easy:lol::lol: Seriously once you covered the first 200 miles you'll get into the swing of it.

I prefer to get a good nights sleep, then do it with an early start, rather than sleep in the middle of it.

I've done it 3 times back from South of France to Manchester 1030 miles, twice in 18 hours including crossing the Channel, on the bikes and once in 14 hours in a car (sad to say) plus a couple of other 800+ mile bike days.

Good weather makes a huge difference, as does working out fuel/food/rest stops. See that truck trundling along at 56mph you passed just before you stopped for petrol, just check out how long it takes to catch it up when you stop. Make sure your riding gear is real comfy, or it'll annoy the hell out of you, and get the bike set up right, good seat, screen, levers set in the most ergonomic position, it all helps.

If in doubt stop and take a rest.

Apologies if my reply sounds a bit 'been there, got the T shirt' and i'm not trying to do down Howards or Duncs big rides.


Good luck with your run.

[Edited on 21-6-2005 by BDG]

Apologies if my reply sounds a bit 'been there, got the T shirt' and i'm not trying to do down Howards or Duncs big rides.

[Edited on 21-6-2005 by BDG] [/quote]

'Nuff respect BDG for having done it 3 times :cool: it's great to hear that some people are doing big miles on Dukes. My local dealer has three two year old bikes for sale all with less than 500 miles on the clock :barfy: makes you sick.

I think it best if we avoid any type of willy waving competition on this subject as big miles are a serious subject :saint: and we don't really want people falling asleep on their bikes :(

Having said that I always find it easier to do the big miles on the way home. Something about getting to sleep in my own bed at the end of it makes it seem worth while :roll:

One thing phillc may have to think about is what state he will be in the next day :o If this is the outward leg of a touring holiday it might be a better bet to take it easy ;) I know I didn't want to see my bike for a couple of days after I got beck from Italy :lol::lol::lol:

[Edited on 21-6-2005 by Monty]

Monty,

What did you ride across Lapland and how did you get there?

Nope, this is exactly what I want to hear!

I've done 1000kms in a day back in Australia, but 1000miles is a vastly different proposition.

At the moment I'm thinking about getting an evening ferry to the continent, then knocking off 3 or 4 hundred miles that evening. Having a decent sleep and then cracking on with the last 6 or 7 hundred the next day. Of course, I could just take more time off work and make it a longer trip :-)

I appreciate all the advice and ideas on this thread. I'll post an update when I decide what my plan is going to be.